Movie spotlight
Clair de Lune
"Clair de Lune" was fully animated and scored when it was deleted from Fantasia in early 1940, a casualty of Fantasia's excessive length. In February 1942, inking, painting and technicolor photography were completed for "Clair de Lune" as a short subject, but it was not released. In 1946 it was edited , reshaped and re-scored as the popular music sequence "Blue Bayou" in "Make Mine Music". Previous attempts to recreate "Clair de Lune" were frustrated by missing animation and Stokowski footage. A nitrate workprint of the original version located in 1992 has allowed "Clair de Lune" to be completely reconstructed as Walt Disney intended it to be seen.
Insights
Plot Summary
A struggling composer falls for a talented singer, but his ambition leads him to exploit her talent for his own gain. Their relationship is tested by fame, betrayal, and the pressures of the music industry. The film explores themes of love, artistic integrity, and the cost of success.
Critical Reception
Clair de Lune was met with mixed reviews upon its release. While some critics praised its musical numbers and Lana Turner's performance, others found the plot to be melodramatic and predictable. The film was a moderate commercial success, benefiting from Turner's growing popularity.
What Reviewers Say
Praised for its musical sequences and Lana Turner's screen presence.
Criticized for a formulaic and overly sentimental plot.
Considered a decent, if unexceptional, musical melodrama of its era.
Google audience: Audience reception for Clair de Lune is not widely available, but contemporary reviews suggest it was seen as a pleasant, albeit forgettable, musical drama that capitalized on its star power.
Fun Fact
The film features original music by Herbert Stothart, who later won an Academy Award for Best Original Score for 'The Wizard of Oz'.
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